On Tuesday, Niger’s Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, who has been stranded abroad since last week’s coup, pleaded for assistance from the international community in restoring democracy.
Mahamadou asserted in a Paris interview with The Associated Press that Niger is essential for advancing democracy in West Africa and defending nations to the south “against the spread of terrorism.”
The ECOWAS regional organisation for West Africa declared travel and financial sanctions against Niger on Sunday and threatened to use force if the coup leaders refused to restore Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s democratically elected president, within a week.
The penalties, according to Mahamadou, would be a “catastrophe” for Niger.
On Tuesday, France, Italy, and Spain confirmed that their citizens and other European nationals will be evacuated from Niger.
One of the final democratic allies the West had in its fight against Islamists in West Africa was Mahamadou’s government.
“Niger is a key country in terms of security for the rest of Africa, but also for the rest of the world,” he stressed.
Both the United States and France have sent troops and hundreds of millions of dollars of military and humanitarian aid in recent years to Niger.
The current instability in the country ultimately “could encourage … the further development of insecurity linked to jihadists,” Mahamadou warned.
“Because if the armed forces are preoccupied with issues other than ensuring the country’s security, you can understand that this will enable the jihadists to move forward on the ground.”
The prime minister emphasized that he still wants to be “optimistic” about Niger’s ability to reestablish democracy and avert an ECOWAS military intervention.
The president “is definitely a hostage,” he claimed, adding that he is “in good spirits” and “ready to face the situation.” He also said that he is in contact with Bazoum.
Mahamadou expressed his belief that the coup leaders will heed the ECOWAS demand to reinstate Bazoum rather than risk military intervention since they are “patriots.”
